Pac-12 championship game preview: UW’s comfort zone, the Lanning factor and radio silence from the Pac-12 Networks
Oregon is a heavy favorite as the rivals duel with a CFP berth at stake
Friday night in Las Vegas, the final Pac-12 championship game will feature two playoff contenders with a combined record of 23-1, two Heisman Trophy candidates, ABC’s top broadcast crew, and a sold-out stadium.
The Pac-12 Networks were not present.
The conference’s wholly-owned media company will not have a linear television presence at Allegiant Stadium, where No. 3 Washington and No. 5 Oregon will clash for a College Football Playoff berth.
There will be no Pac-12 Networks pregame show.
There will be no Pac-12 Networks halftime update.
There will be no Pac-12 Networks postgame show.
Anyone watching the networks at 9 p.m. on Friday will see a women’s volleyball game (USC vs. UCLA), not interviews with the Huskies and Ducks.
Cost cuts caused by the conference’s downsizing of operations ate up the on-site football coverage. The Pac-12 Networks’ presence at the championship game was not included in the scope-of-services plan developed by commissioner George Kliavkoff and approved by the presidents.
According to multiple sources, sending the on-air talent to Las Vegas and providing production support would have cost a maximum of $100,000. That was apparently too much to bear. (Pac-12 basketball pre- and postgame studio shows are also not on the budget this year.)
We couldn’t have written a better ending.
After all, the networks’ failed business model and ongoing distribution issues contributed to the demise that resulted in the cash crunch that prevents the networks from having a presence in Las Vegas.
So the circle is complete, and it resembles the flight path of the dodo.
The situation is unfortunate for both the participating teams and the viewers at home. The Pac-12 Networks crews, including on-air talent as well as producers and directors, were best equipped to provide the most compelling coverage.
Instead, there will be two options for fans: the ABC telecast, which will include limited pre- and postgame coverage, and some digital features available on the Pac-12’s website.
The conference did not respond to the situation.
To the pick …
Last week: 3-3 Season: 41-38-1 Five-star special: 7-6
All picks against the spread Lines taken from BetMGM (via VegasInsider.com)
(All times Pacific)
Washington vs. Oregon Kickoff: 5 p.m. on ABC Line: Oregon -9.5 (total: 66.5)
Washington’s case is supported by a three-point head-to-head victory six weeks ago. Everything else is secondary to the case for Oregon.
From Utah to Oregon State to Washington State to Arizona State, the Ducks have bludgeoned opponents that Washington struggled to beat.
With their run-pass approach, the Ducks are more complete offensively: 35 percent of their total yards have come on the ground, compared to only 26 percent for the Huskies.
The Ducks have better balance between the lines of scrimmage, generating more yards per play offensively while allowing far fewer yards per play defensively.
The Ducks are more rested, having beaten Oregon State on Friday night while Washington State went down to the wire on Saturday afternoon.
And the Ducks have the more efficient quarterback: Bo Nix has been brilliant lately, melding with his tailbacks and receivers; meanwhile, Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. hasn’t been as sharp late in the season as he was early.
However, not every factor is a distinct shade of green.
The Huskies have two advantages:
- Comfort in discomfort
The Huskies have played close games week after week and are used to the pressure of performing under pressure. No team in the country has been more inventive.
The Ducks haven’t played a close game since a mid-October loss at Husky Stadium.
If Friday night’s game is close in the fourth quarter, UW will have a wealth of experience to draw from, including two nail-biting victories over Oregon in the previous 55 weeks.
This cannot be overstated.
- The Lanning effect
Oregon coach Dan Lanning was widely chastised (here and elsewhere) for his playcalling, particularly in the Red Zone and on fourth down, in both last year’s 37-34 loss to Washington and this month’s 36-33 loss to Washington.
The desire to set an aggressive tone, combined with emotionally charged circumstances, appears to have pushed Lanning beyond the realm of reasonable decisions, costing his team dearly in both games.
Will Lanning let up just enough on Friday night to allow Oregon’s most valuable assets — its players — to do what they do best?
We’re not suggesting Lanning take a cautious approach, but there is a distinction between aggressive and reckless behavior.
If you lean toward the latter, you will undermine the cause.
Our prediction: His decisions will be slightly more measured this time, and that will be all the Ducks need to defeat their nemesis.
Oregon is our choice.
Ducks score 34, Huskies 28.
